LOOK: Bears publish first depth chart of preseason

The Chicago Bears published their first depth chart of the 2023 preseason, and it wasn’t without a few surprises.

Check it out:

First, fans of rookie running back Roschon Johnson might get concerned that he’s fifth in the running back pecking order behind Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, Trestan Ebner, and Travis Homer. However, coach Matt Eberflus is an old-school guy. I think this is nothing more than the rookie having to earn a bigger role by stacking good practices and strong preseason performances.

The running back depth chart should look very different two weeks from now.

Darnell Mooney gets the nod over Chase Claypool in the starting lineup, but modern NFL offenses start three receivers, so again, don’t read too much into that. Claypool is in the top three, and he’s having a fantastic training camp. Even if he isn’t technically in the starting lineup, he could surpass Mooney as the No. 2 receiver in Justin Fields’ progressions.

One of the biggest shocks on the depth chart is defensive end Trevis Gipson. Most Bears fans assumed Gipson was a starter before Yannick Ngakouw was signed. Instead, it looks more like he’s on the roster bubble. Gipson is behind Rasheem Green and undrafted rookie Terrell Lewis.